Open Earth

Tafu-Maka

Tafu-Maka is a fissure vent in Tonga-Kermadec Volcanic Regions, Tonga, rising to -1,400 m. Its most recent recorded eruption was in 2008.

About Tafu-Maka

Two submarine volcanoes, Tafu and Maka, lie along a NE-SW-trending ridge segment in the southern part of the NE Lau Spreading Center (NELSC). The NELSC is a back-arc spreading center in the northeast part of the Lau Basin. Tafu (Tongan for "source of fire") rises to about 1,400 m below sea level at the NE end of the ridge segment, and Maka (Tongan for "rock") reaches 1,560 m below sea level at the SW end. A November 2008 NOAA Vents Program expedition discovered submarine hydrothermal plumes consistent with very recent (days to weeks?) lava effusion from Maka; a return visit in May 2009 documented the freshly emplaced lava flow.

Eruption reports

Reports from GDACS and NASA EONET linked to this volcano.

No eruption reports in our records yet. New reports appear here automatically.

Earthquakes nearby, 30 days

Within about 50 km. Swarms of small quakes can sometimes accompany volcanic unrest.